Council & Politics
9 October, 2024
Election candidates outline vision for Northern Grampians Shire Council
Council candidates share vision beyond roads, rates, and rubbish.
Voting has started for the Northern Grampians Shire Council election and voters are expected to receive their ballots in the mail from Monday, October 7.
Fifteen hopeful candidates across three wards - Central, Grampians and Kara Kara - are hoping to be elected to the council for the next four years.
In September, The Stawell-Times News invited all candidates to provide a 300-word profile and respond to two questions.
This week, we wanted candidates to look beyond roads, rates and rubbish and outline their vision for the municipality.
Here are their responses in order of the VEC listing.
Q. What is your vision for the municipality?
Jenny Greenberger, candidate for the Central Ward.
"A healthy and resilient community, where diversity is embraced and due recognition is given to our First Nations peoples. We take active steps to address climate change and prepare as a community for its future impacts. We have adequate housing, great community facilities and programs and a strong economy."
Kevin Erwin, candidate for Central Ward.
"My vision is to attract new business, support existing businesses, and expand job options within the Northern Grampians Shire; bring in new families to fill these jobs and to support new housing options right across the Shire and to advocate and negotiate for further programs and projects for our Shire.
"It is also vital to have frugal financial management; efficient, effective delivery of services; improvement in infrastructure, amenities and public transport; and a respectful team culture, always working to make our community safe and strong. My vision is for a vibrant and healthy municipality where people love to live, work, enjoy and visit!"
Lauren Dempsey, candidate for Central Ward.
"I'd like the Northern Grampians Shire to be a thriving and prosperous place for us all to live.
"I'd like to see; A strong tourism plan implemented where local businesses are thriving and people love to live in our shire. Councillors have strong relationships with the community where they make themselves available to listen and ideas and information are fed back to council. Housing of all kinds is available and affordable. Young people are provided with a range of job opportunities and feel connected to their community."
Lachlan Eckert, candidate for Central Ward.
"Business development, adequate healthcare, more activities and attractions for all ages, tourism development, general township cleanliness and appeal along with many other things. My main goal of course is to achieve the best representation of the collective community."
Rob Haswell, candidate for Central Ward.
"I will help create a welcoming and safe place for women, especially families and single mothers. I will strive to create a vibrant and growing economy, helping to make the Northern Grampians Shire an exceptional place to live and work and a centre of excellence for both Health and Aged Care."
Karen Hyslop, candidate for Central Ward.
"The Municipality be known as a safe, healthy, vibrant, progressive and affordable place to live. Our Council continue to advocate to increase housing, create jobs, attract new businesses, and support existing businesses, fill job vacancies, increase tourism, create more events, in an environment that supports the diversity and needs of our community and to have a community that feels informed and valued."
Trevor Gready, candidate for the Grampians Ward.
Mr Gready did not provide an response.
Justine Hide, candidate for Grampians Ward.
"It is essential to start mapping and implementing future plans for a more sustainable, self-sufficient, and forward-thinking region, ensuring a brighter future for our children. We must look beyond the next decade and plan for the long-term, focusing on the facilities, services and resources needed to make this shire a place where people want to live, work, play, and visit."
Jack Blake, candidate for Grampians Ward.
"My vision with being 1 of 6 councillors can often be seen as I am the least to concentrate on materialistic things but more focused on the community, having all service's whether it is the medical field, education departments and services that we provide are very important and run very successfully but my passion is more about breathing positivity into the youth.
"Guidance is so important in this day and age and to encourage our future leaders to stand tall.
"Setting up leadership groups in schools and working closely with the programs that are already running incorporating the right team of real people speaking about real issues."
Lisa Whyte, candidate for Grampians Ward.
"I envision a community that prioritizes affordable and accessible housing as an immediate necessity. We need to enhance vocational opportunities locally to empower our residents and support their career growth.
"Increasing transport options will be essential for connecting our community and making it easier for everyone to access services and opportunities. I believe in fostering vibrant activity centres that serve as hubs for social interaction and community life, alongside thriving businesses that contribute to our local economy.
"Finally, I am committed to promoting increased social and community engagement to ensure that all voices are heard and valued. Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive community for everyone."
Murray Emerson, candidate for Kara Kara Ward
"My vision for the municipality is for the Northern Grampians Shire to be an inclusive, respectful and responsible decision making organization for the benefit of the total community."
Mr Hudson did not provide a response.
Terence Robertson, candidate for Kara Kara Ward
"I am interested in making a difference. I think the business as usual work of the council is going well. As a councillor, and a background boy, my role will be to act as a link between the community and the NGSC as an organisation so their issues will, and should, become my issues in time.
"The edges that may need focus is where my efforts should be directed. At this stage the following seem to be areas that need more work.
"I am conscious that retail is struggling with lack of people in the street, cost of living pressures reducing spending on top of the increased costs of operating their shops. This would mean that the focus on tourism to get more people to visit is very important and I would like to get detail on council costs and approval periods that may impact anyone seeking to open a new business or hopefully reopen a closed shop or business.
"I have heard that domestic violence is the most compelling challenge that our local police have to deal with. I see it as a priority to understand how our council supports those affected and if there is more that can be done to help people deal with what is surely the most traumatic of situations.
"I know that housing has been a focus for some time. With both the limited availability of premises to rent or buy along with hundreds of houses either vacant or in poor condition, a way to tie these ends together would be of huge benefit to our entire community."
Karen Probst, candidate for Kar Kara Ward.
"My vision is for council and community to be excited to work together and eager to share each other's knowledge and ideas. To celebrate the different talents and knowledge that we each have. To encourage everyone to be involved from the early stages to feel a part of a caring and vibrant community of people."
John Farrell, candidate for Kar Kara Ward.
Mr Farreell did not provide a response.